Lieutenant-Commander Brunner, RCN: Media Personality

Today at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on nationwide TV on Canada AM, lieutenant commander Robert Brunner, RCN, was interviewed about the progress and activities of the Canadian Disaster Assistance Response Team in the Philippines in response to Hurricane Haiyan. Audio only for the interview,  link here.

The interview covered the activities of the team in the last week and the arrival of the new helicopters and the coming online off water purification facilities.

Robert explained that the teams have been getting out into the rural areas and the coastal areas where the devastation was the worst and also attending disaster shelters to attempt medical assistance.

Robert explained the activities of the engineers and other technical folk in route clearance to free up roads from storm damage and downed power lines.

Robert further explained that the local governor had a good disaster response plan and this explains why they were not as many casualties in penne as there were in other locations but that the devastation was equal otherwise.

The interviewer asked why the Canadians were in the Roxas and on Panay Island. Robert explained that this was the place the Philippine government asked us to be and that we were as necessary in this location because of the devastation as we would have been in any of the other hard hit areas that were under the primary storm track.

The interview was well executed and Robert deserves recognition for doing a competent and professional job and for giving Canadians a good idea what our Canadian Forces are doing.

I think Alex and Jack, my two Godsons - Rob's little guys - can be proud of their dad.

From Robert, now in Kandahar

Thank you Tom for your kind words.

Each time it gets harder and harder to leave home, especially now that little Jack is now part of the crew. I just got an email from Erica saying that today he started to focus on people and items. He is far happier, probably no longer bored. This will be the first of several things I will miss in the 7months I will be gone.

I arrived in time for the ramp ceremony. A sobering welcome to a real dangerous place. It is impressive to see every solder lining the tarmac and heart wrenching to hear the bagpipes playing their soft lament (and I'm not the biggest fan of the pipes)

After the ceremony I ran into a fellow MARS officer from my unit in Kingston on his way home. We sat over coffee and talked about life in Afghanistan. There is little doubt this will be a life changing experience.

I will keep hearth and home in my heart, keeping memories of loved ones and friends (some the same) always in my mind, to keep the shadows at bay.

Rob (Over the hills and far away)